The Correlation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) Polymorphism and Other Risk Factors with Aneurysmal...

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (eNOS) polymorphism is an association with cerebral aneurysm formation, rupture, and vasospasm and plays a role in the a functional outcome.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of eNOS gene polymorphism and further assess the predictors of outcome in the aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). A prospective case-control study was conducted from 2009 to 2012 among those who presented with aSAH. A serum sample was collected from aSAH patients along with age and sex-matched healthy controls. The frequency of polymorphism of eNOS gene and other factors (demographic and aneurysmal) were correlated with functional outcome at six month of follow-up.

100 patients with aSAH and 100 healthy controls were enrolled in the cohort. The mean age of the patient group was 51.61 years and control group was 45.81 years with a male:female ratio of 1:1.38 and 1:1.08 for patients and controls, respectively. Among all eNOS polymorphisms, 4BB (65%) 24-VNTR, TT (71%) of T-786C, and GG (71%) of G947T were the most common and frequency was similar in the control group. The occurrences of hypertension, smoking, diabetes were 32%, 37%, and 7% respectively in the patient group. Maximum patients were in WFNS grade 1 (53%) followed by 23% grade 2 and only 10% in grade 4. Fisher grade 3 (57%) was the most common followed by Fisher grade 4 (28%). Most aneurysms (97%) were in anterior circulation. 83% of the aneurysms were clipped and 10% underwent coiling. Size-wise most of the aneurysms were in the middle group (6-9 mm) followed by bigger group (>10 mm) (37%); only 6% aneurysms were in the small aneurysm (<6 mm) group. 33% of the patients had evidence of vasospasm. TT of G894T polymorphism (60%) had the highest incidence of vasospasm. Univariate analysis showed smoking (OR: 3.19, CI: 1.19-8.84, P = 0.01), 4AA (OR: 12.15, CI: 1.13-624.9, P = 0.03) variety of 24-VNTR polymorphism, CC (OR: 15.39, CI: 1.60-762.8, P = 0.01) variety of T786C polymorphism, Fisher grade 4 (OR: 3.43, CI: 1.24-9.68, P = 0.01), WFNS grade (poor vs. good) (OR: 3.42, CI: 1.17-10.12, P = 0.02), vasospasm (OR: 3.84, CI: 1.42-10.75, P = 0.006), intraoperative rupture (OR: 4.77, CI: 1.55-15.27, P = 0.004) were significantly related with unfavorable outcome at 6 months follow-up. In regression analysis, smoking (CI: 0.06-0.69, P = 0.01), Fisher grade 4 (CI: 0.09-1.00, P = 0.05), and intraoperative rupture (CI: 0.05-0.89, P = 0.03) were correlated with an unfavorable outcome at 6 months follow-up.

The eNOS gene polymorphism, smoking, clinical grade (WFNS), Fisher grade, intraoperative rupture, and vasospasm play a role in functional outcome after the treatment of cerebral aneurysms.